Tis the time of year for cold & flu bugs to show their nasty face so I thought this article by Elissa Goodman had some excellent tips. Read her awesome ideas below:

The dreaded cold and flu season is coming up fast! As a holistic nutritionist, and true warrior against sickness, I’ve researched the best cold-killing remedies that are natural, gentle on the body and work FAST! The truth is that the only way to go fast is to go naturally. You’ll recover way quicker using holistic methods than if you take toxic over-the-counter medications. So, to make sure you stave off a cold, or heal one in no time at all, here are my top eight holistic secrets!

1. Immunity juice

At first sign of a sniffle, I start drinking an “Immunity Juice.” I crafted this one for Erewhon Natural Foods Market in Los Angeles. It’s chock full of powerful, illness-fighting foods like parsley (combats infection), horseradish (great for clearing the sinuses) and garlic (major antiviral!). It’s guaranteed to get you back to tip-top shape faster than you can say, “Achoo!”

This recipe from Dr. Andrew Weil is a great alternative to comforting chicken soup! It’s a savory and nutritionally sophisticated medley of some of the top antiviral foods, including mushrooms and broccoli. Use the recipe below to slurp your sickness goodbye!

Any time you get sick, you need to up your intake of good intestinal bacteria! Friendly flora helps to produce virus-fighting antibodies and aids in vitamin absorption. So, improving your intake of probiotics is a must. You can get your probiotics by supplement or by eating probiotic-rich foods such as miso, kimchi, sauerkraut or kefir. See my raw coconut kefir yogurt posted previously on MindBodyGreen!

4.Grapefruit seed extract

Grapefruit seed extract has been found to be an effective antimicrobial, and is a true miracle supplement. Whenever I feel sick, I put 40 drops in an empty capsule and take one capsule two times a day. Within hours, the difference is unbelievable!

When you’re under the weather, shoot for a minimum of eight hours of sleep. If it’s really bad, take the day off. I know work is calling you, but your body only heals while you rest. Give yourself permission to catch some zzz’s!

7. Reduce stress

Illness thrives in a stressed body. So to stave off sickness, make relaxing activities part of your weekly routine. Try getting a reflexology foot massage, making time for that yoga class, or taking a 30-minute walk!

8. Sunshine for vitamin D

Your body needs vitamin D to activate pathogen fighting T-cells. And the best way to get your D is to soak up the sun! Try some sunscreen-free exposure for 20 minutes between 8 am and 10 am or between 4 pm and 6 m, when the sun isn’t too harsh. And lose those sunglasses, because a great way to synthesize vitamin D is through your eyes!

If you have 45 minutes, this Fifth Estate show about sugar will make you think twice & encourage you to read labelling on food. Yesterday I looked at the cottage cheese label as I was topping it on what I thought was a healthy salad….10g of sugar in 1/2 cup! What!!!! 4 grams equals 1 teaspoon, so my healthy salad has just over 2 teaspoons of sugar on it!!! Sheesh!!!

I read an article that really made me think….I try to focus on “the good things” but this inspired me to end the day by running through a few thought provoking, inspiring questions. Pretty much to focus on what happy and good stuff happened in my day.

Here are the questions Karen Salmansohn had in her article, I will share with you my yesterday…(kinda hard to answer everyone, every night…cut me some slack)

I’ve created a list of 10 happiness-boosting questions to share at the end of the day (with family or friends) to increase both happiness and connectedness!

1. What did you learn today? That there is only so much you can do in a day…there is always tomorrow.

2. What made you laugh today? When I picked up something for Allan, the guy said to me “This is a Beamer, not a Freight Hauler….haha…still belly laughing over that one.

3. What surprised you today? That this mornings sunrise was more beautiful than the day before.

4. What made you proud today?

5. What loving action did you do for someone today? Texted back & forth with my niece while she was try to coax a burp out of her baby (she’s a mother of 2 under the age of 2…Mother of The Year Award should go to this one)

6. What loving action did someone do for you? An I love you text from my 16 yr old niece. A couple of friend’s who always let’s me know they support me in my Blogging, which is so nice cuz as much as I love to do the Blog, it can get “Is anyone out there even like what I am writing?”.

7. What do you feel especially grateful about today? My health

8. What did you do today to move a little closer to a goal/dream?

9. How did you stretch yourself further today?

10. What made you feel excited/inspired today? To be able to travel someplace new.

“I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations
and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”
―Bruce Lee

The biggest disappointments in our lives are often the result of misplaced expectations. This is especially true when it comes to our relationships and interactions with others.

Tempering your expectations of other people will greatly reduce unnecessary frustration and suffering, in both your life and theirs, and help you refocus on the things that truly matter.

Which means it’s time to…

1. Stop expecting them to agree with you.

You deserve to be happy. You deserve to live a life you are excited about. Don’t let the opinions of others make you forget that. You are not in this world to live up to the expectations of others, nor should you feel that others are here to live up to yours. In fact, the more you approve of your own decisions in life, the less approval you need from everyone else.

You have to dare to be yourself, and follow you own intuition, however frightening or strange that may feel or prove to be. Don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t get discouraged by their progress or success. Follow your own path and stay true to your own purpose. Success is ultimately about spending your life happily in your own way.

2. Stop expecting them to respect you more than you respect yourself.

True strength is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles. It’s about having faith and trust in who you are, and a willingness to act upon it. Decide this minute to never again beg anyone for the love, respect, and attention that you should be showing yourself.

Today, look at yourself in the mirror and say, “I love you, and from now on I’m going to act like it.” It’s important to be nice to others, but it’s even more important to be nice to yourself. When you practice self-love and self-respect, you give yourself the opportunity to be happy. When you are happy, you become a better friend, a better family member, and a better YOU.

3. Stop expecting (and needing) them to like you.

You might feel unwanted and unworthy to one person, but you are priceless to another. Don’t ever forget your worth. Spend time with those who value you. No matter how good you are to people, there will always be one negative person who criticizes you. Smile, ignore them, and carry on.

In this crazy world that’s trying to make you like everyone else, the toughest battle you’ll ever have to fight is the battle to be yourself. And as you’re fighting back, not everyone will like you. Sometimes people will call you names because you’re “different.” But that’s perfectly OK. The things that make you different are the things that make YOU, and the right people will love you for it.

4. Stop expecting them to fit your idea of who they are.

Loving and respecting others means allowing them to be themselves. When you stop expecting people to be a certain way, you can begin to appreciate THEM.

Pay close attention, and respect people for who they are and not for who you want them to be. We don’t know most people half as well as we believe we do; and truly knowing someone is a big part of what makes them wonderful. Every human being is remarkable and beautiful; it just takes a patient set of eyes to see it. The more you get to know someone, the more you will be able to look beyond their appearance and see the beauty of who they truly are.

5. Stop expecting them to know what you’re thinking.

People can’t read minds. They will never know how you feel unless you tell them. Your boss? Yeah, he doesn’t know you’re hoping for a promotion because you haven’t told him yet. That cute guy you haven’t talked to because you’re too shy? Yeah, you guessed it, he hasn’t given you the time of day simply because you haven’t given him the time of day either.

In life, you have to communicate with others regularly and effectively. And often, you have to open your vocal cords and speak the first words. You have to tell people what you’re thinking. It’s as simple as that.

6. Stop expecting them to suddenly change.

If there’s a specific behavior someone you care about has that you’re hoping disappears over time, it probably won’t. If you really need them to change something, be honest and put all the cards on the table so this person knows how you feel and what you need them to do.

For the most part though, you can’t change people and you shouldn’t try. Either you accept who they are or you choose to live without them. It’s might sound harsh, but it’s not. When you try to change people, they often remain the same, but when you don’t try to change them – when you support them and allow them the freedom to be as they are – they gradually change in the most beautiful way. Because what really changes is the way you see them. (Read A New Earth.)

7. Stop expecting them to be “OK.”

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle, just like you. Every smile or sign of strength hides an inner struggle every bit as complex and extraordinary as your own.

Remember that embracing your light doesn’t mean ignoring your dark. We are measured by our ability to overcome adversities and insecurities, not avoid them. Supporting, sharing and making contributions to other people is one of life’s greatest rewards. This happens naturally if we allow it, because we all share very similar dreams, needs and struggles. Once we accept this, the world then is a place where we can look someone else in the eye and say, “I’m lost and struggling at the moment,” and they can nod and say, “Me too,” and that’s OK. Because not being “OK” all the time, is perfectly OK.

Afterthoughts

People rarely behave exactly the way you want them to. Hope for the best, but expect less. And remember, the magnitude of your happiness will be directly proportional to your thoughts and how you choose to think about things. Even if a situation or relationship doesn’t work out at all, it’s still worth it if it made you feel something new, and if it taught you something new.

This article is perfect for me…#1 is something I have learned, once you get the hang of it it sure makes life easier & freeing. #2 a work in progress & a great reminder. #3 Dear GST, you will not frustrate me. #4 & 5 I have this handled! #6 I have a hard time being around a sour puss but anyone can have a bad day right…yesterday as I was waiting in line for a coffee, I looked in the rearview mirror at the lady behind me. Now this lady looked like she was having a bad day. I am hoping a free coffee gave her a smile. #7 Duh…always #8 & #9 All I can say here is “Tractor Time” where my best thinking happens & alone time is inevitable. #10 A work in progress but everyday gets better.

Written by: Angel Chernoff
The beginning is always now.
No matter what the history of your day has entailed thus far, the rest of your day depends on what you do right now. Write it on your heart that the rest of today is going to be amazing. Here are some ideas to help you make it so:

1. Loosen your grip.

Trying to micromanage every little thing every moment is stressful. Life should be touched, not strangled. Sometimes you’ve got to relax and let life happen without incessant worry and micromanagement.

Starting now, let go before you squeeze too tight. Take a deep breath. When the dust settles and you can once again see the forest for the trees, take the next step forward. You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going every single second to be headed somewhere great. Everything in life is in perfect order whether you understand it yet or not. It just takes some time to connect all the dots.

2. Focus forward.

You can’t go back to how things were, or how you thought they were supposed to be. All you really have is now. The smartest thing you can control in life is your reaction to what’s beyond your control. Dwelling on negativity from the past simply contributes to its power. So stop focusing on what happened and start focusing on what’s going to move you forward.

Everyone’s life has positive and negative aspects – whether you’re happy and successful or not depends greatly on which aspects you focus on. The best thing you can do now is to let go of what you can’t control, and invest your energy in the things you can.

3. Check one lingering task off your to-do list.

Putting something off instantly makes it harder and scarier. What you don’t start today won’t be finished by tomorrow; and there’s nothing more stressful than the perpetual lingering of an unfinished task.

You know that thing you’ve been meaning to do, but you keep putting it off and it keeps nagging at you from the back of your mind. Stop the nagging by taking action now!

4. Spend an hour working on something that moves you.

When you strike that fine balance between the challenge of an activity and your skill at performing it, when the rhythm of your work feels in sync with your purpose, when you know that what you’re doing makes a difference, you become absorbed in the task at hand to the point where time ceases to exist. This is what true passion and happiness feels like.

So is there anything you do on a regular basis that makes you forget what time it is?

On your average day, flow experiences like these are those flashes of intense living when you’re engrossed in a meaningful task that makes you feel more alive. These optimal experiences can happen when you’re engaged in work, paid or unpaid, that move you. Work like this is something you should be pursuing for at least an hour on a daily basis.

5. Try something totally new.

Step out of your comfort zone and try something totally new. What have you wondered about doing, but haven’t had the courage or time to try? Aim for something small that you can accomplish in an hour or less. It can be a whole new activity or just a small experience, such as talking to a stranger.

Variety truly is the spice of life. You can see or do something a million times, but you can only see or do it for the first time once. As a result, first time experiences often lift our sprits and our consciousness.

So what’s new to YOU?

6. Help someone smile.

There is no exercise better for the improvement of our world than reaching down on a daily basis to lift someone up. Don’t wait for people to smile. Show them how. Do something nice for someone who has no way of paying you back. Do it because you can, and because it makes the world a happier place.

When you make a positive impact in someone else’s life, you also make a positive impact in your own life. Do something that’s greater than you – something that helps someone else to be happy or to suffer less. I promise, it will be an extremely rewarding experience. And your small gesture just might touch a wound that only kindness can heal.

7. Spend time with a friend who improves you.

You can go through life and make new friends every year – every month practically – but there is no substitute for the few who truly improve you. These aren’t the people who are simply nice to you; they’re the ones who help you uncover the things that are holding you back. In subtle ways, they bring ideas to your attention that change your life. These friends don’t just sit beside you unknowingly; they shake your world up, reveal your obstacles and weaknesses, and remain a part of your life because they care.

Friends like this are the most important people you will ever meet because they tear down the invisible walls you have built in your mind. In other words, they come into your life and reveal new, valuable layers of yourself that you would never have discovered without them.

Spend some time chatting with one of these people today.

8. Muse on life’s goodness.

You deserve some time every day in which worries don’t get in the way of your happiness. Moments when, even if some people are insensitive or unkind around you, you’re not going to mind because you realize that the blessings you have received are far greater than the burdens you are dealing with. You can create time like this for yourself today. There is power in positivity.

Think about the goodness. Be grateful for all the blessings you already have. We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. What if you gave someone a gift and they neglected to thank you for it? Would you be likely to give them another one? The daily events in your life respond the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must be grateful for what you already have.

9. Give yourself some “me time.”

Yes, you have battles out in the world to fight, insecurities to overcome, loved ones to contend with, and goals to achieve, but a break from it all is necessary. It’s perfectly healthy to pause and let the world spin without you for a while.

Go ahead and set aside some “me time” to be alone with your own thoughts today. Enjoy the space between the commotions. Say nothing, think quietly, just be and breathe. Give yourself an opportunity to discover who you really are, and to figure out why you truly are always alone… and why that’s perfectly OK. (Marc and I discuss this in more detail in the “Self-Love” and “Happiness” chapters of “1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently.”)

10. Be right here, right now.

I purposely left this point for last because it perfectly encompasses all the previous points. Be present. It’s being here now that’s important. Don’t let your life slip by. Pay attention to what’s happening in and around you; don’t just hurry through to the next thing.

You can’t stop the future. You can’t rewind the past. The only way to live is to press play. So instead of dwelling on what happened earlier today, or worrying about what might happen later on, just practice being and living in this moment. This moment, after all, is the only time guaranteed to you. Right now is all there ever truly is. Right now is life. Open your eyes so you don’t miss it.

Afterthoughts

You are a work in progress; which means you get there a little at a time, not all at once. The rest of today is a brand new day – a fresh start. Replace negativity with positivity. Think happy thoughts. Exercise your mind and body. Healthy is happy. Inspire yourself. Create. Laugh. Run. Play. Love. Learn. Give someone a compliment. Perform a random act of kindness. Take a chance on an idea you believe in.

You have the opportunity to do these things every single day – to make the necessary changes and slowly become the person you want to be. You just have to decide to do it. Decide that today is the day. Say it: “This is going to be my day, starting now!”

My name is Cindy & I love coffee…k, it’s out! I love coffee & I love it dark & flavorful. My fav way of making “Bean Juice” or C8H10N4O2: (The molecular formula for caffeine), for my favorite tv character Sheldon, is to do it French Press Style. Here’s how: